The Washington critic., 1887-10-22
W WASHINGTON CRITIC
WAsHINGToN, OCTOBER 20, 1857.
ODDS AND ENDS.


as the rbylloxera upon vines. Not
long ago the greatest CONSERVATION pre-.
vailed among the engineers employed
upon the railway at Hagen, Germany, by
accidents occurring always at the same
place, proving that some terrible defect
existed In the material or the construc-
tion Of the rails. The Government di
rected that inquiry be made and com.
mission Of surveillance bo formed to
maintain constant watch at the spot
where the accldents--one Of them at
tended with loss Of llfe-occurred. 1t
was not, however, until after six months
had elapsed that the surface OF the rails
appeared to be corroded, as II by acid,
to the extent Of one hundred yards.
The rail was taken up and broken, and
was found to be literally followed out
by thin gray worm, to which the
qualification OF "ralliverous" was ap.
piled, and by which name It is to be
classed In natural history. The worm
is said to be two centlmetres In length
and Of the size Of the prong Of silver
fork In circumference. 1t is OF light
gray color and on Its head carries two
little glands filed with corrosive Sc.
creiion, which Is elected every ten
minutes upon the iron. This liquid
renders the iron soft aud spongy and
OF the color Of rust and II is then
greedily devoured by the Insect.
There Is no exaggeration." says the
official report Of the commission, "in
the assertion that this creature is one
OF the most voracious OF Its kind, as 1t
has devoured thirty six kilogrammes of
rail- in fortnight"
w.
James Gordon Bennett, like other
wealthy men, has his hobbies. When
he crosses the ocean he has handsome
meerschaum pipe made for the captain
OF the steamship upon which he sails,
placed In silver case with the mono
gram OF the captain engraved on the
outside.
-.
Senator Hearst of California manages
to live without borrowing on a monthly
income OF Ss0.41666. Possibly he
might live without the sixty six cents,
but those are the figures.
-.
The Maiden Assurance Society of
Denmark aims to provide for ladies Of
well.to.do families; shelters aud cares
for them, and furnishes necessary
"pin money" The noblemen-for the
association is peculiarly for this class
as soon as female child ts born,
enroll her name In a certain association
Of noble families, paying Il certain sum,
anu thereafter fixed annual amount
to the society.
When the girl reaches the age OF
twenty one, she becomes entitled to a
fixed income and to suite of apart
ments in large building of the asso
citation, with gardens and parks, in.
noble ladies, who have, In like man.
should die during her youth, aud she
should desire, she has shelter In this
building, and, at q fixed time, her In
come. When she dies or marries. all
right to income lapses, and the money
association. Her father may have
riage, she forieits oil right OF insur
ance. This advantage enables tht
company to charge lower premiums
and makes the burden less to the fathel
insuring. He has the pleasure Of feel
ing that his small annual payments In.
sure his daughters future aud may
give her comfortable home after his
death. 1t Is obvious that the chance
for marriage among given number o
young women can be calculated as
closely as those Of death. The plai
has worked well for generations II
Copenhagen.
Who, of all our American philan
thropists will start such an association
In This country for the benefit o
maidens of all classes of society?
~.
The new law in New York prohibit
ing the employment Of children In fac
tories, throws over 80, 900 children on
Of employment.
."s
isJn $1,000,000 of gold shipped BY
express from San Francisco to Ne'
York, there is loss by abrasion o
from 800 TO $3.50.
X~s
Borrowing money strengthens tn
memory of the man who loans tn
money and never sees 1t again. Ther
Is q man in Washington to whom
loaned certain sum more than eigh
years ago, thereby making him my
everlasting enemy. frequently pas
lin on the street, and never look upo
his handsome, honest, charitable cour
ttnapce that do not recall the amour
Of the loan with compound interes
added to date. There Is nothing lik
having something to remember ma
by.
A friend of mine went few day
ago to prominent Washington DENTS
begging his pardon for having thi
printed-to have tooth filled. Th
dentist advised him to have the toot
removed, and assured him he woul
feel NO pain II he took laughing gas
"But what Is the effect of the gas
asked my friend. ut simply make
you totally insensible," remarked tn
dentist; "you don't know thing this
takes place. My friend submitted, BIT
inst before he took the gas, put h
hand In his pocket and pulled out b
money. "Oh, don't trouble about tht
now," said the dentist, thinking b
was about to BIO paid his fee. "Not I
ALL" remarked the patient II VI
simply going to count my money b.
fore taking the gas"
-.
Fight your own battles; hoe yol
own row. ask no favors of any one, au
you will succeed ten thousand tim
better than one who is always beseecl
ing some ones patronage. No one wi
ever help you as you can help yoursel
for the reason that you cannot indu,